WASHINGTON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY BirdBox
20-24 January 1996

Prepared by Lisa Smith and Russell Rogers.
Minor editorial changes have been made to some messages to enhance
readability.

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Please note that the Seattle Audubon Rare Bird Alert is out of service
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11:18 a.m. 01/20/96: Phil Mattocks in Ellensburg, 509-962-2191. I have a
second-hand message of four SNOWY OWLS at Moses Lake. They were there on
December 30th--two of them on December 30th for the Christmas Count--and
four there on January 18th midday, in a survey. There's an Audubon field
trip scheduled to go there today; they may or may not make it. It's
snowing hard here. The birds are one mile east of Moses Lake on Wheeler
Road, and that's the same as 3 NE. This is on page 69 of DeLorme. One
mile east of Moses Lake on Wheeler, turn right on L NE. Go half a mile to
a large alfalfa field, and they are scattered out in that field, perched
on the equipment. I'm also tracking down a third-hand report of a HAWK
OWL at Pearrygin State Park some time in the last two weeks. I'll call
back this afternoon. I'm going to get some information on it and will
call back later.

11:27 a.m. 01/20/96: Gary Blech, 360-853-7203. I just read in the *Methow
Valley News* that the Christmas Count over there in the Methow Valley (I
believe it's the Twisp Christmas Count) had a NORTHERN HAWK OWL. This is
the first I'd heard of it, and I just thought I'd mention that.

12:20 p.m. 01/20/96: Bill Tweit. On the morning of the 20th we had an
immature SWAMP SPARROW on Brady Loop Road in Gray's Harbor County. The
bird was at the slough crossing on Brady Loop Road about a half mile east
of the intersection, in the middle of Brady Loop Road.

1:33 p.m. 01/20/96: Mike Wile of Redmond, 868-4679, reporting from
American Lake in Tacoma where today, amongst the many BONAPARTE'S GULLS,
I had a single adult basic-plumaged LITTLE GULL flying right among the
BONAPARTE'S half to three quarters of the way across the lake from the
boat launch, presumably the same bird that was reported a number of weeks
back on the hotline.

4:55 p.m. 01/20/96: Phil Mattocks in Ellensburg, 509-902-2191. There was
indeed a HAWK OWL in, or near, Winthrop. Found on December 28th and last
seen on January 10th, it was photographed. It's across the lake from
Pearrygin State Park. The lady is there every day and says if she sees it
again, she'll give me a call, and I'll give you folks a call. It's right
beside the road. It's sort of a private road, but it's accessible, and
visible from the road if it comes back.

8:21 p.m. 01/20/96: Steve Pink, Bellevue, 603-0736. I went to Skagit
today and also to Whidbey. At Whidbey the KING EIDER was still present at
Hastie Lake Road. Up at Skagit I found the PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER in with
flocks of DUNLIN, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, and a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER.
Also relocated the RUSTY BLACKBIRD near Fir Island Road. Saw two
PEREGRINES, but neither falcons. Where are they?

12:52 p.m. 01/21/96: Dick Veit. In the Kent Valley there is a
RED-BREASTED GOOSE and a EURASIAN COMMON TEAL. The goose is on Frager
Road about seven-tenths of a mile south of where Southcenter Parkway
turns into it at 180th Street, in a flooded field by a parking lot full
of Allied moving vans. It's in with a bunch of CANADA GEESE, PINTAILS,
TEAL, WIGEON, and so forth. The COMMON TEAL is on Orillia Road as it
comes down towards the Kent ponds from the freeway, in a flooded field
just west of the road. There are also 30 or 40 CACKLING CANADA GEESE
scattered around the field in that general area.

8:40 p.m. 01/21/96: Steven Mlodinow. Today Steve Pink, Casey Beachell,
and I went up to the Vancouver area. The GREAT GRAY OWL is still
inhabiting its usual haunt at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, British
Columbia, near Vancouver. For details, call 604-737-3074. Other sightings
of interest in the area include a SLATY-BACKED GULL, an adult which was
present across the street from the Chevron where provincial route 10 hits
provincial route 99. This is in Delta. Other highlights include an EARED
GREBE at the Blaine Docks, a CLARK'S GREBE at the county park at the
lighthouse in Point Roberts, and a GYRFALCON at the power pylons at the
base of Roberts Bank.

8:07 p.m. 01/22/96: Bob Norton. YELLOW-BILLED LOON, Sequim Bay, 20th and
the 22nd, John Wayne Marina; at the outlet, or in the marina, or just off
the marina.

8:27 a.m. 01/23/96: Scott Atkinson. Just a quick report: If you're
passing by the Skagit Wildlife Management area, you might stop by there.
There are four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in a large Zono flock next to the
parking area, seen on Sunday, January 21st.

7:51 p.m. 01/23/96: Vic Nelson. On the 22nd of January at Point No Point
on the northeast tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, I saw a LEACH'S STORM
PETREL. Today, on the 23rd of January, I saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW on
Marrowstone Island at Mystery Bay State Park in the brush behind the
outhouse.

10:26 a.m. 01/24/96: Joan Baker, 206-782-5463. I'd like to report some
SCRUB JAYS in the city of Olympia. They were spotted between the library
and the post office. That's between 8th and Union and bordered by Adams
and Jefferson.